Spence, What is your Platform? Part 3: Privatization

Government is a necessary evil. Since Man is flawed and evil motives can creep into the normal interactions that our species requires, we must have some type of framework in place to assist in our societal functioning. Some would argue that the more regulation we have, the better off we are. I disagree.

Since Man is flawed, government (which is made up of humans) is flawed, as well. What keeps me from being considered an anarchist, however, is the belief that we have a set of laws that all men can agree upon as fair, just, and in the interest of all who fall under it.

...well, we did until professional politicians started f'ing with the Constitution (but that is a debate for another time).

Anyway, back to my point. Man is flawed. Government should restrict the amount of influence it holds over the populace, and especially over the economy.

I hold to what is called the Austrian school of economic belief. I believe that the ultimate 'regulator' in the economy is naturally-occurring supply and demand. I also believe that the more fingers the government sticks into the economic pie, the worse off the economy is.

So, when the government creates an agency or department to oversee some part of our society that can be done by private business, they are hurting the economy. Lets take a look at some industries that can be privatized:

1. Corrections. Yes, privatizing prisons and corrections officers can have tremendous economic benefits. Not only can costs drop 10-15%, but introducing competition to a system that traditionally increases its budget requirements every year will also help keep costs down. Corrections also has a reputation for being a 'dumping ground' for law enforcement professionals who cannot/will not 'advance' to other forms of law enforcement. Privatization increases job competition, and thus a higher quality of correctional officer can become the average, not the exception.

2. Transportation. Texas is a prime example of how well privatization works! Not only do we have an average 10% savings on highway maintenance, but other states are using Texas as a model for privatization of their respective highway maintenance programs. One finds it silly that this great example of privatization hasn't inspired the Legislature to spread this method out to the other money-absorbing departments in the Lone Star State.

3. Education. First off, let me say that I support public education. Our Founding Fathers believed that education is a fundamental right of all Americans, and that a sound public education system would benefit our country more than any other program. The key term there is a SOUND public education system. Ours is a broken, union-controlled quagmire. Privatization of public education is not, as the NEA or other teacher groups would have you believe, forcing parents to pay a tuition for education (which you already do...its called your local SCHOOL TAX). Instead, it forces schools to provide a higher level of education while keeping costs low (there's that pesky free market again). A great way to start this privatization would be a voucher program. For further reading, check out what Nobel Economics Prize winner Milton Friedman had to say on this.


So there's just a few of the 'biggies'. What are some of the benefits of privatization that we can agree on?

A. LOWER COSTS
B. HIGHER QUALITY
C. LOWER TAXES
D. SMALLER GOVERNMENT
E. INNOVATION not STAGNATION

If elected to the Texas House of Representatives, I will strive for privatization and right-sizing of our State government. Please help us win this battle against big government and over-regulation. A vote for Spencer is a vote for the free market. Thank you.